LISTEN: SIU says it will ‘prioritise Eskom/SABC probe’

Spokesperson for the Special Investigating Unit, Nazreen Pandor, told Thabiso Thema on the Power Breakfast on Tuesday that the SIU had begun investigating alleged irregularities at Eskom and the SABC. This follows numerous allegations in the media regarding the ‘capture’ of these two institutions.

In reply to the perception that the SIU is reluctant to investigate, Pandor explained that the SIU needed to wait for a proclamation before they could begin their work.

“We submit a motivation, either because of a whistle-blower or because something has been brought to our attention,” she said. “This is forwarded to the presidency. Once it is approved it is published in the Government Gazette, and then we can start. For the last five months we have been drafting that proclamation in respect of the Eskom matter.”

Pandor explained that the SABC investigation was already underway, and that it was expected to be completed within a year.

“It is difficult to set a time-frame for an investigation,” she said. “We set it at a year, but it could be wrapped up in a couple of months. We investigate issues of maladministration or malpractice, most of the time to look at procurement. When there is evidence of criminality we refer our evidence to the National Prosecuting Authority for them to prosecute. We then present our findings to the NPA.”

Pandor explained that there was overlap with other Chapter Nine institutions and other authorities, but that they worked according to different statutes.

On the Nkandla matter, she explained that the SIU’s investigations had resulted in disciplinary proceedings and where criminality had been uncovered it was referred to the High Court. The architect in the Nkandla matter was already being prosecuted in a civil case for the cost overruns.

Callers to the show expressed frustration at the slow pace of prosecution for corruption, claiming that millions and millions of irregular and fruitless expenditure took place in government but that accounting officers were never brought to book. They were merely moved to other jobs.